McDonald's completely overhauled its chicken sandwich, and
Shake Shack unveiled its own, well-reviewed version in 2016.
David Chang fanned the flames with the chicken-sandwich-focused
Fuku, the
most hyped addition to the trendy Momofuku empire.

In light of this crispy, golden renaissance, we decided to gather
the chicken sandwiches from major fast-food chains and see which
ones are worth it - and which ones are better left untouched.

First up: McDonald's. The recent revamp of its chicken sandwich brought some much-needed change to the chain. The buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich is indeed crispy — in fact, perhaps a little heavy on the breading.

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Hollis Johnson

The chicken is slightly on the dry side, but there is a definite hint of tangy buttermilk seasoning. Unfortunately, it often gets masked by a glob of mayonnaise — the usual for this sandwich, which we've mentioned in previous reviews. The "artisan" bun does the job well, holding up to the heaping helping of mayo without getting too soggy.

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Hollis Johnson

Burger King's tendercrisp chicken sandwich is ... not the best. It's soggy and saucy; the outrageous amounts of mayonnaise mix with the watery and weak tomato slice to form a strange, warm slurry beneath the bun.

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Hollis Johnson

The chicken is juicy, but salt seems to be the only hint of flavor here. A hunk of gristle — or something — brought the taste-test to an abrupt end. My advice: Don't go to Burger King for the chicken. It's not 'Chicken King,' and at this rate, it never will be.

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Hollis Johnson

Wendy's chicken has always impressed me, at least as far as fast-food chicken can. There's a crispy, thick fillet with a modest amount of mayo; the iceberg lettuce, however, is a bit of a letdown.

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Hollis Johnson

The bun is spongy, but it stays dry in the face of mayonnaise and a wet tomato slice. Wendy's doesn't have the most amazing of chicken sandwiches, but it's the old faithful, the decent standby.

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Hollis Johnson

Of all the sandwiches, Arby's is the most unexpected. First, finding that Arby's even serves a fried chicken sandwich was a learning moment. Secondly, it's surprisingly good. The chicken is quite tender but has a satisfyingly crunchy breading.

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Hollis Johnson

There's a lot of mayonnaise — the bane of chicken sandwiches everywhere, evidently — but it tastes like real store-brand mayo, which is something of a silver lining. The bun is fantastically soft yet stays dry, and the tomato is flavorful and strong.

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Hollis Johnson

On to Dairy Queen: I'll preface this by saying how much I adore the Blizzard. I do not expect much of the food, yet even then I am sorely disappointed. Such a sad, sad sandwich. The crispy chicken sandwich is a swampy debacle with far too much mayonnaise and a bun that deteriorates in hand — much like one's hopes of this sandwich being a decent and enjoyable meal.

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Hollis Johnson

The meat is incredibly bland, the tomato is pallid, and the sorrowful shreds of iceberg lettuce add nothing positive to the equation. "That's ... rough," one taste-test helper said. Please, Dairy Queen, keep making ice cream and stop making food.

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Hollis Johnson

Bojangles', the much-loved Southern chicken chain, offers a surprisingly sub-par sandwich. It's bogged down with mayonnaise and an unimpressive bun. Luckily, the chain's colorful Cajun seasoning saves the sandwich from becoming a total write-off.

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Hollis Johnson

The sandwich offered by Raising Cane's is quite literally made by slapping their chicken tenders on a bun with some lettuce and some Cane's sauce. But boy, what beautiful tenders — crispy, greasy, gorgeously seasoned. But, it's still tenders on a bun. Why waste stomach space on a bun?

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Hollis Johnson

Zaby's, another Southern chicken chain, has a similar approach, offering a sandwich version of their chicken tenders. The chicken itself is pretty decent — on par with Raising Cane's in terms of flavor, but the breading leaves something to be desired. The set up is similar: Zax sauce and lettuce on a bun that's just... meh.

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Hollis Johnson

The sandwich from Church's Chicken has a comforting similarity to McDonald's McChicken sandwich. It's simple, and it knows it is. It's a not-very-crispy, yet not soggy, chicken patty sandwiched between a humdrum sesame bun, some shredded lettuce, and some neon yellow cheese.

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Hollis Johnson

KFC's chicken sandwich, overshadowed by the ghost of the infamous chicken-on-bacon-on-cheese-on-chicken "double down," is called the "doublicious." It's a crispy fillet draped with strips of bacon on top of rich and subtle Monterey Jack cheese and a slightly spicy sauce.

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Hollis Johnson

This sandwich is really, really good. It doesn't fit within the chicken-tomato-lettuce-mayo tradition of sandwiches, but the flavors are notably nuanced for a fast-food sandwich. The thin chicken is well-seasoned with pepper, buttermilk, and whatever the Colonel's elusive herbs and spices may be. The sauce is likely a mixture of mayonnaise and barbecue sauce, which adds a vinegary kick without overwhelming the sandwich. It's not as salty as one would expect, as the slightly sweet bun counteracts the bacon.

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Hollis Johnson

Chick-fil-A's revered chicken sandwich is iconic for a reason. Man, it's a hot one — the foil envelope it comes in keeps it steaming hot for a long, long time. There is a sweetness to the bun, which pairs well with the savory chicken.

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Hollis Johnson

The chicken breast isn't that crispy, but it's incredibly juicy and tender, and the taste is smooth and fresh. The pickles add a delightful crunch and piquant notes. An elegant simplicity surrounds this sandwich: bun, chicken, pickle. It's a humble sandwich with little pretense.

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Hollis Johnson

Chick-fil-A's deluxe is another beast entirely, which is why it has to be included in this as well. If we're going to be shallow and base things purely on looks, this sandwich is the most beautiful thing we have ever laid eyes on. Perfectly ruffled lettuce, melted cheese draped like silks in a Dutch still life, and an unblemished bun — it's a sight to behold.

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Hollis Johnson

As far as taste goes, it's fantastic; however, it feels ... complicated. The chicken — arguably the best part of any Chick-fil-A sandwich — is muffled within the cheese, thick tomato slice, and puffed-up bun.

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Hollis Johnson

Of all the sandwiches, KFC's flavors and quality seemed to shine through: a beacon of crispiness and depth. And even though it has bacon and cheese added on (what is this, a wannabe club sandwich?), the Colonel's mysterious seasoning gives it the best taste and crunch. But, I have to say — Chick-fil-A's simple, modest, classic sandwich is almost always a winner and pleases even the pickiest of palates.